'Allgemeines N.S.D.AP.-Gau-Ehrenzeichen für die Mitgliedschaft seit 1925' by: 'R. Wächtler & Lange'

This is a truly attractive - and with certainly very rarely encountered! - example of a so-called: 'Allgemeines N.S.D.AP.-Gau-Ehrenzeichen für die Mitgliedschaft seit 1925' (or: 'General N.S.D.A.P. Gau Honorbadge, commemorating membership since the year: 1925') being a genuine silver- (ie. '800'-silver-content marked!) example that shows a clearly present and superimposed makers'-designation on its back (that reads: 'Wächtler & Lange - Mittweida') and that comes in an overall very nicely preserved- and/or only moderately used- ie. worn, condition. The piece shows a (fully preserved) black-coloured (ie. painted or sprayed) swastika within its centre the years-designation: '1925': it comes mounted onto a circular-shaped, oak-leave wreath and shows two (nicely preserved and totally unaltered!) hollow-type rivets as to be expected (as can be noticed on the pictures). The piece on offer here was just moderately worn and does show some minimal age ie. tarnish. The N.S.D.A.P.-party was geographically organised into various districts. Below the national- (ie. 'Reichs'-) level there were various 'Gau'-districts (which were the administrative equivalent of traditional German states). The leadership of each 'Gau' was authorised to award special badges to recognize a variety of achievements in the political realm. The exact requirements for each award were determined by the leader of each 'Gau' and could range from 'outstanding service to the local political organisation', to: 'long service to the N.S.D.A.P.-party' or: 'participation in important historic events during the partys struggle before 1933'. Some of these 'Gau-Ehrenzeichen' were issued in several grades to recognize different levels of experience or achievement. These badges were worn on military and/or civilian uniforms and were a mark of honor for the political-elite. Twelve different of these 'Gau-Ehrenzeichen' (or: 'Gau Honor Badges') were designed for the 33 (later 43) 'Gau'-districts within Germany. They were carefully designed with impressive designs to denote the high levels of achievement for which they were awarded and the quality of these badges is generally extremely high. These 'Gau-Ehrenzeichen' were awarded in limited numbers and as a result NONE of these existing 'Gau-Ehrenzeichen' are commonly encountered today. Simply a very attractive - and with certainty very desirable! - example of a: 'Allgemeines N.S.D.AP.-Gau-Ehrenzeichen für die Mitgliedschaft seit 1925' that is I deem accordingly priced!